You are here

Division I Research

The NCAA research staff conducts national research for its Division I members on a wide variety of topics including academic performance, student-athlete well-being, finances of intercollegiate athletics programs, gender-equity and diversity issues. The studies below have recently contributed to national dialogue within the division:

Division I Men’s Basketball Study on Youth Sport, Recruiting and College Choice(December 2017)

NCAA research staff, in collaboration with the Commission on College Basketball, sought feedback from men’s basketball student-athletes on topics related to youth sport, recruiting and college choice.

Division I SAAC Early Recruiting Survey(October 2017)

In September 2017, the Division I national Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) worked with the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Experience Committee and NCAA research staff to design a survey examining Division I student-athletes’ recruiting experiences.

Division I Council Transfer Working Group Survey on Transfer Concepts(October 2017)

In September 2017, the Division I Council Transfer Working Group provided the membership with a briefing document titled, "Addressing the Transfer Environment in Division I Athletics: Developing Policies and Procedures for Optimal Outcomes for Student-Athletes and Member Institutions". The briefing document introduced four concepts to the membership. Feedback was sought regarding these concepts in a survey disseminated to athletics administrators, conference offices, and head coaches. Findings from this survey will assist the Transfer Working Group as they continue to refine concepts and propose legislative changes to address the transfer environment in Division I.

Division I Time Demands Survey(April 2016)

The Autonomy Conferences, Division I Council and Division I SAAC are working to bring forward an initial slate of legislative proposals to be voted on in January 2017. The legislation aims to enhance the student-athlete experience by providing better balance in the area of time demands. The sport-specific, solution-oriented information derived from this survey will be important to each of the respective groups as concepts are developed, refined and brought to maturity as proposals. Designed in collaboration with NCAA research staff, this survey assessed student-athlete, head coach and athletics administrator support for a range of concepts addressing student-athlete time demands. Findings from this survey supplement data collected from the Division I SAAC Time Commitments Survey and the NCAA GOALS Study.

Academic Attainment of Division I Student-Athletes Who Compete as Postgraduates(October 2015)

NCAA research staff examined the educational pathways of thousands of Division I student-athletes who recently received an undergraduate degree and continued to compete as postgraduates (either as graduate students or in the pursuit of a second undergraduate degree). Results include information on postgraduate student-athlete degree programs and completion rates.